HEALTH SURVEY
Stress driving workers to drink, poll indicates
Over a third of employees say bosses don't treat them with sufficient care
One third of employees spend an average of Bt815 on alcohol each month, according to a survey by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the Abac Poll Research Centre.
The survey covered 3,468 respondents in 13 provinces across the country. All of them are members of the social-security scheme.
Of those polled, 56 per cent earned between Bt5,000 and Bt10,000 a month; 16 per cent earned between Bt10,000 and Bt15,000 and 11 per cent earned less than Bt5,000.
"More than half of the respondents have been in debt. On average, each has debts totalling Bt115,832," Penpan Jittasenee, a senior official at the foundation told a press conference yesterday
Of the indebted respondents, about 24 per cent owed money to illegal moneylenders, which left them vulnerable to violence and exploitation.
In addition to alcohol, 16 per cent said they spent Bt423 on cigarettes every month, while 46 per cent spent Bt395 on lotteries or other risk-taking activities.
"Of those polled, 40 per cent said they didn't earn enough money," Penpan said.
According to the survey, 40 per cent have suffered from work-related stress and 42 per cent said they had thought about quitting their jobs during the past year.
As many as 37 per cent felt their organisations did not provide them with sufficient care. About 7 per cent had thought about suicide.
Most respondents said they wanted the social-security fund to spend money on improving their quality of life. Asked what they wanted most, common answers were higher wages, better welfare and a chance to get some exercise.
Despite the problems, 70 per cent said they found happiness in working and 80 per cent confirmed they had the courage to go on with their lives.
Using the social-security fund, the social-security scheme has provided some benefits like healthcare, maternity benefit, and child allowances to its members. The funds come mainly from monthly contributions submitted by employers and employees.
Thai Health Promotion Foundation plans to team up with relevant agencies to promote corporate social responsibility, which would improve the well being among employees - and society in general.
The Nation April 29, 2007